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Maurine Karagiani, the NDP critic for the children and families ministry, wants B.C. to follow the example set by Manitoba in protcting the jobs of spusal violence victims who need times off.DEBRA BRASH/ PROVINCE

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B.C. should adopt a new Manitoba law offering victims of domestic violence leave while fleeing their abuser, according to the NDP.

The Opposition critic for women’s issues, Maurine Karagianis, said she plans to introduce a private members bill in B.C. seeking similar bans on penalizing victims at work when they flee abuse at home.

Ontario’s legislature is already debating a similar bill.

Asked if it would follow suit, the B.C. government simply responded with an email listing existing programs for domestic abuse victims. It’s email also noted the B.C. Employment Standards Act grants employees five days unpaid leave if there is an issue with the care and health of an immediate family member.

The Manitoba law, the first in Canada, provides job security to people fleeing domestic violence. Victims fleeing domestic violence are entitled to five paid days off, five unpaid days off and an additional 17 weeks of unpaid leave while trying to find a new home. Ontario’s proposed legislation offers 10 paid days of leave and, like Manitoba, will guarantee the job will be waiting for them on their return.

“It’s excellent legislation,” said Karagianis. “It’s especially needed in B.C. In fact we’ve seen a dramatic increase in violence in B.C.” She noted in B.C. in 2014 there were 20 deaths attributed to domestic violence and another 18 women were seriously injured.

Karagianis said she hasn’t heard anything from the provincial Liberals about whether they plan to bring in similar legislation.

“They’re not as engaged as I’d like them be. They’ll say they have a provincial office on domestic violence but this is a coordinating office in B.C. and offers no service to people fleeing domestic violence. The fact we have on Office of Domestic Violence that doesn’t do anything (for people fleeing abuse) is disgusting,” she said. “We’re sadly lagging behind.”

Domestic abuse experts agreed B.C. could be doing more when it comes to the issue of domestic violence.

“Manitoba and Ontario are leading the way in a big way,” said Angela MacDougall, executive director of Battered Women’s Support Services. “There’s lots of really interesting and progressive initiatives happening outside B.C. with respect to domestic violence.

“My hope is there is a strong understanding that this is a gender based crime — all the evidence shows this and any policy should recognize the gender aspect of this. We need to put the emphasis on gender inequality.”

Maria Paredes, a transition house worker for Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter, said she has met many women at the transition house who could benefit from legislation similar to Manitoba’s.

“This is really encouraging because it helps women whose employment is impacted (as a result of domestic violence). This is a great first step but politically we have to get to the point where women can have 100 per cent guaranteed livable income.”

In 2014, a national study found 82 per cent of victims reported that domestic violence hurt their job performance and 8.5 per cent said it got them fired.

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